Cyclone Ockhi moves towards Lakshadweep
Reports suggest destruction in archipelago; rains subside in Tamil Nadu, Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cyclone Ockhi that left a trail of death and destruction along the southern coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu made landfall in Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea on Saturday with heavy rain and strong wind.
The India Meteorological Department said heavy rainfall is expected all over Lakshadweep for the next 24 hours with extremely high rainfall (above 20 cm) in the northern parts. The cyclonic system is expected to start weakening by December 4.
Reports from the island said strong winds with speeds of 130 kmph are lashing many parts of the island with Kalpeni and Minicoy islands taking the maximum brunt.
Since communication networks have been badly affected the extent of damage is not immediately known.
The Agatti Airport, the only one in the archipelago has been closed down
Talking to the Hindustan Times over the phone, Lakshadweep’s lone member of Parliament, Mohammed Faizal, said cyclone has left massive destruction in the island.
“The island witnessed a strong wind with the speed of 135 kmph on Friday night and early Saturday. After the destruction in Minicoy and Kalpeni, the cyclone moved to the capital Kavarthi. Though many houses and buildings were damaged there is no human casualty so far,” the MP said adding that precautionary steps have limited damage in the island.
Faizal said many areas in the island were isolated after communication and power networks crippled in the island. “We are in touch with the Central government which promised us all help. Navy ships and Air Force copter are bringing in enough relief materials. We hope rains will subside by evening,” he said.
The Navy has rushed to a fleet of ships to the islands after the IMD issued a red warning and put the cyclone in ‘very severe’ category.
Sources said precautionary measures taken by the island administration helped contain damages. The southern air command of the Indian Air Force said its copters are on standby.
As the cyclonic storm moved to the Lakshadweep islands, it was a big reprieve for Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Rains subsided and clear sky was visible in many areas.
A joint operation conducted by the Navy and the Air Force rescued 26 fishermen adrift in the deep seas on Saturday.
A Navy spokesman said naval ships escorted 104 fishermen from TN and Kerala to Kalpeni (Lakshadweep) after they were caught in the storm.
The Kerala government has, placed the number of missing fisherment at 126 and they said 400 fishermen had been rescued so far. The cyclone has taken 22 lives in TN and Kerala.
The Kerala government of Saturday announced a relief of ₹10 lakh to the families of deceased and ₹20,000 each to the injured in cyclonic storms.
There are 12 confirmed deaths in Kerala and 10 in Tamil Nadu.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who made the announcement said free ration will be given to the affected and the government will take all measures to compensate damages to the fishermen. On Friday the CM had to make a fervent plea to some fishermen who refused to enter rescue ships and copters leaving their boats and nets in deep seas. “A joint operation by various wings including navy, air force and coast guards helped save many lives. We are yet to gauge total damage,” he said adding that a report that a Japanese ship rescued many stranded fishermen was incorrect. The Tamil Nadu government requested the Centre to deploy the coast guard and the Navy for rescue.